The 10 Best Internal Hard Drives

This wiki has been updated 6 times since it was first published in February of 2019. While magnetic hard drives may not be quite as fast as newer, solid-state storage devices, there are a few reasons you may opt for one. Primarily, they're significantly cheaper, but they also run a bit cooler and tend to consume less power. If you're trying to extend the life of an old laptop or increase the number of movies and games you can retain internally, one of these should do the trick.
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This wiki has been updated 6 times since it was first published in February of 2019. While magnetic hard drives may not be quite as fast as newer, solid-state storage devices, there are a few reasons you may opt for one. Primarily, they're significantly cheaper, but they also run a bit cooler and tend to consume less power. If you're trying to extend the life of an old laptop or increase the number of movies and games you can retain internally, one of these should do the trick.
When users buy our independently chosen editorial
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we may earn commissions to
help fund the Wiki.
Skip to the best internal hard drive on Amazon.

10. MaxDigitalData 3272DVR

REVIEW

DETAILS

SPECS

For the final piece to a budget-oriented surveillance system, consider the MaxDigitalData 3272DVR, which can store up to 30 days of 720p video at 30 frames per second. It is not, however, recommended for use in data centers or desktop computers.

9. Seagate IronWolf

REVIEW

DETAILS

SPECS

The purpose-built Seagate IronWolf is geared specifically for enterprise applications, and it's optimized for use in one of the various RAID configurations. It's highly reliable, and should last a long time, but has subpar random read and write speeds.

8. Western Digital Black

REVIEW

DETAILS

SPECS

The Western Digital Black is an especially well-known model that is often selected by gamers who may need a lot of archival room for data-heavy titles. In addition, it features built-in protection against vibration damage and sector corruption.

7. Western Digital RE

REVIEW

DETAILS

SPECS

The enterprise-grade Western Digital RE promises an average of 1.2 million hours between faults, which is important to those organizations running 24/7 server operations. It's constructed to the highest standards in order to withstand 100% duty cycles.

6. Seagate Skyhawk

REVIEW

DETAILS

SPECS

While it is a bit costly, the Seagate Skyhawk's 14 terabytes are sufficient to store quite a lot of surveillance footage with no need for any to be overwritten. It's built to write quickly and consistently without making any errors or dropping any frames.

5. Western Digital Red Pro

REVIEW

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SPECS

Intended specifically for network-attached storage systems, the Western Digital Red Pro utilizes advanced technology to ensure a long life, and an extremely low failure rate. Each unit is individually tested to make sure that it's shipped without any intrinsic errors.

4. Seagate Exos 7E8

REVIEW

DETAILS

SPECS

Among the most sought-after by data centers, the Seagate Exos 7E8 is a native 4K device that is also capable of emulated 512-byte operation. It's built for an epic 550-terabyte lifespan, many times more than the average desktop model.

3. Seagate BarraCuda

REVIEW

DETAILS

SPECS

For the best in reliability, without spending a ton of cash, consider the Seagate BarraCuda, which has long been seen as the finest all-mechanical option available. This 3.5-inch version is meant as an upgrade to home desktop PCs, and spins at a maximum of 7,200 RPM.

2. Seagate IronWolf Pro

REVIEW

DETAILS

SPECS

The Seagate IronWolf Pro is among the most well-regarded professional units on the market, and it performs at just as high a level. It comes bundled with 2 years of data recovery services, and offers burst reading up to 6 gigabits per second.

1. Seagate FireCuda Desktop

REVIEW

DETAILS

SPECS

Combining the affordability of magnetic storage with the speed of solid-state memory, the Seagate FireCuda Desktop offers exceptional throughput, at quite a reasonable price. Its 8-gigabyte flash chip works alongside standard discs to vastly improve system response.

Editor's Notes

February 13, 2019:

Maybe you're on a very limited budget, or just don't want to invest a ton in a new drive. Or maybe you're resistant to change. Most probably, if you're looking for a mechanical hard drive, you're outfitting a server or other enterprise-level computer. Whatever your intent, we won't judge you; in fact, there are some fantastic, fully mechanical, as well as hybrid solid-state/magnetic models out there. For everyday users of most types, it's almost impossible to beat Seagate's multiple offerings. Their FireCuda is as close as you can get to SSD performance without dropping a large amount of money, while their BarraCuda has been one of the most respected HDDs for a very long time. Western Digital has also been quite popular over the long term, although many people consider the Blacks to be overpriced. They're also pretty loud. If you're outfitting a server, large or small, the Seagate Ironwolf is almost certainly your best bet, although the WD Red Pro is a close second, and is less expensive. Whichever you decide upon, make sure to keep it regularly defragmented, as pretty much nothing is more frustrating than sitting around waiting for Windows to load.

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Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.

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